The Pittsburgh Penguins had a difficult choice to make before the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. They had to choose between their star goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury, and the new upcoming netminder, Matt Murray. Murray impressed in his second season with the Penguins, posting a GAA of 2.41 and a save percentage of .923. On top of that, he posted four shutouts.
Meanwhile, you had the old guard in Fleury. His stats weren't as impressive, for he posted a GAA of 3.02, a save percentage of .909, and a shutout. Therefore, out with the old and in with the new, as they always say.
Fleury was left unprotected and the Vegas Golden Knights wasted no time picking him up in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. He was selected with the 29th overall pick, with Pittsburgh getting a 2020 second-round pick. The Golden Knights had their starting goaltender for the next few years, keeping them secure at a key position.
In essence, this was his second chance. A subpar 2016-17 campaign left him for dead. However, the Golden Knights didn't believe that and were willing to give him another shot. How did it turn out for Vegas? Well, let's say it benefitted the franchise in many ways.
How Marc-Andre Fleury found life with the Vegas Golden Knights
One thing that benefited Fleury the most was an aggressive defensive system filled with two-way players. Stars like Reilly Smith and William Karlsson covered the ice and gave Fleury breathing room. It made life easier for the netminder and his acrobatic style.
In his first season with the Golden Knights (2017-18), he posted a GAA of 2.24 and a save percentage of .927. That also came with four shutouts and a Stanley Cup Final trip. Fleury sends his regards to that stingy two-way play, by the way (Rhymes Like Dimes!).
The next season? He had a GAA of 2.51, eight shutouts, and a save percentage of .913. Although he slumped a bit in 2019-20 (2.77 GAA, .905 save percentage, and five shutouts), he won the Vezina Trophy the next season (1.98 GAA, .928 save percentage, six shutouts).
Overall, he had a solid four-year campaign before being traded. Fleury posted a GAA of 2.41, a save percentage of .917, and 23 shutouts. Ironically, his GAA and save percentage were better in Vegas than during his Penguins years. Yes, I get that the former Vezina Trophy winner spent 13 seasons with Pittsburgh. However, it's noteworthy that he revitalized his career with the Golden Knights.
Fleury's revitalization was essential to the Golden Knights being a roaring success
When George McPhee was looking at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, the goal was to find an impact player who could lead the team to victory. Sure, you had William Karlsson scoring 43 goals in the team's inaugural season. Sure, you had players like Reilly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault, and Alex Tuch leading the way scoring-wise.
But if the Golden Knights didn't take a chance on the Pittsburgh Penguins legend, Vegas doesn't get to the Stanley Cup Final. Without him, they don't make four straight Stanley Cup playoff appearances.
Most of all, going to Vegas gave Fleury the confidence he needed to get some pep in his step. After posting abysmal numbers in 2016-17 in Pittsburgh, the former first-overall pick was dealing with all the trash talk.
"Oh, Fleury is washed."
"He doesn't have it anymore."
Mind you, Murray's getting assignments for teams like the Seattle Kraken now. The Penguins moved on from him in 2020 after trading him to the Ottawa Senators (they got a pick and a guy named Jon Gruden... no, not the football coach). As for Fleury? Well, his next destination is the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Sometimes, second chances are all you need to succeed in life.